Ok, I finally got around to finishing this. I did not draw/type the text along the top (with the exception of the far far top right), it was clone stamped from somewhere else. Japanese art seem to like putting in a lot of text on some of their work. No idea what it says. Something about purple monkey dishwashers, perhaps.

And thanks to Piro taking inspiration from Amy's art, I'm now also partway through drawing a Tuesday night Team Fortress 2 picture (There will also be one consisting entirely of different versions of Kukulkan, 'cause let's face it, he can do everything).

I just have one question:

Why is it as soon as you give a Good Cleric a bone-saw and a crooked smile, they look positively evil?

<Garreth> Greetings! My name is Garreth, Caesar of the grand nation of Epiach, a land which I drew together in times of trouble to withstand armies of orcs, surrounding nations and demons alike! I am the serpent-eye, the tiefling lord, the veilpiercer – and that’s just what my enemies call me. I have built and maintained alliances with beings from over the border, other sides of the continent, and beyond our very world. I have personally stood in comb
<@Pironious> Behold my awe inspiring presence and tremble at my might, for I am the God-Emperor of the Crimson Sun! A being of such terrifying power the thousands come from the surrounds just to bask in my glory and earn my favour. None can oppose me, entire armies flee before my wrath! My people are strong, proud and loyal; we need not rely on the strength of others to protect ourselves.
<@Pironious> We need not rely on outside conflict to unite as one, for my people are one, a mighty sword wielded by a worthy Lord! Through my power, presence and planning, a great Empire has been created from nothing in but a few short years, and nothing can stop the coming of the Crimson Dawn!
<Garreth> …So you'd be a bard specialising in perform oratory, then.
<@Pironious> Amoungst other things, yes.
<Garreth> Oh, naturally, naturally… so tell me… 'God-Emperor'. Over how much land does your mighty empire stretch?
<@Pironious> My lands stretch for miles upon miles, from the northern river ford where i have built a great city to secure the trade routes of the area, to the southern forests, into to the western hills where minerals are rich and abundant!
<Garreth> Oh… miles upon miles? A mighty empire indeed, indeed…

Garreth smiles with just a hint of smugness…

<Garreth> That's quite an empire… I know a couple of empires around here spread over hundreds, maybe thousands of miles, stretching for many weeks of travel… even my humble nation is at least a hundred miles… but I'm sure size isn't everything, of course…

@Pironious clears his throat angrily

<@Pironious> Given enough time, and enough heirs, centuries of work can turn grant even the most unworthy sovereign a large domain. After all, succession need not go to the most able or competent ruler. Whereas the lads I have carved out I have done so with my own sword as the FIRST and ONLY Emperor of the Crimson Sun.
<Garreth> Oh most certainly a worthy title. Yes, my lands once belonged to others than myself - in fact multiple others, a land strung between two great empires. So I may have been required to combat and negoatiate with both of those grand empires, as well as no small number of threats both barbaric and interplanar…
<Garreth> But yes, I can see how carving one's own empire from no mans' land is a far greater enterprise.

<Garreth> Now, now, let's not get into name-calling… although I'll admit I find it's usually the demon blood that gets called out, not the mortal.
<@Pironious> You say that like having a demonic heritage is a bad thing.
<Garreth> Oh, it has its uses I'm sure… but it's not exactly helpful for engendering trust. I prefer to keep my demonic associations light. I can see how wings would tilt the balance a bit, of course.
<@Pironious> And, pray tell, what might be your demonic associations? How much do you know?
<Garreth> Oh, I've visited a couple of hells in my time… and a couple of them visit me.
<Garreth> Yourself?
<@Pironious> Similar story, actually.
<Garreth> …Somehow… I doubt that. But that's just details. Where were we?
<@Pironious> You were in the process of trying to remove your foot from your throat, I believe…
<Garreth> If you would name your rather combustible polearm there after my foot, perhaps, but that is neither here nor there.
<@Pironious> If it was my Solblade, you'd be in a great deal more discomfort.
<Garreth> Eh… I've seen better weapons of that style… I believe one of my allies has one which has true sentience, and a tendency to make demonic foes explode on impact. Never really been a fan of polearms myself, anyway…

Garreth whips out his rapier with a flourish

<Garreth> Give me the precision of the light blade any day.

Garreth sights along the blade, using the flaming blade of Pironious' weapon as a light source to admire the reflections off his steel

<@Pironious> Hmph. Nothing but an oversized knitting needle. Very pretty, but that's all it's good for, it's got no power behind it.
<Garreth> Power's nothing if you can't apply it just right - and apply even an undersized knitting needle right…
<Garreth> Especially when you take precautions to ensure you can apply it to those who normally care nothing for precision.

Garreth trails a finger along the skull motif of the handguard

<@Pironious> I'd still prefer to have the raw power and versatility to actually hurt things, rather than spending half my lifetime trying to make one trick more versatile. And failing to make it useful enough to justify the time spent.

@Pironious smirks

Garreth scowls

<Garreth> In any case, I think we both know that the blades we wield are hardly our primary sources of power… after all, no-one in our position would display their power so easily, would they?

@Pironious smirks again

<@Pironious> I see you're not all thoughtless words afterall.
<Garreth> And perhaps you're more than a bully with a honeyed tongue and a flaming axe on a stick… perhaps.
<@Pironious> How DARE you! Feel the wrath of the Crimson Sun! Be overawed by my sheer presence and flee with all due haste, for your time is now limited!!!

Garreth blinks and watches as the general crowd at the convention flees in all due haste as instructed.

<@Pironious> …
<Garreth> …
<@Pironious> …Oh gods damn it, you're a fucking Paladin aren't you?!
<Garreth> Well that was kind of uncalled for.
<Garreth> …Well, I don't like to trumpet that sort of thing personally…
<Garreth> But on that note…
<@Pironious> I spend years and year perfecting my art…
<@Pironious> And three levels in a fucking core class completely negates my best trick…

<@Pironious> Well, you interacted with the illusion, roll a will save and you tell me? Yeah, it works like that, even thought so few DMs actually run it like that.
<Garreth> Really? That's not how it got sold to me. Gotta love ambiguities in the writing, don't you? Besides, what they don't know will be less likely to hurt us.

Garreth sighs and both blades disappear once more.

<@Pironious> One moment…

@Pironious runs a hand over his wounds and heals them up somewhat.

<@Pironious> Right, now, where were we again?

Garreth looks around

<Garreth> The only ones left at a convention, and unable to effectively fight each other?
<@Pironious> I'm not out of tricks yet. Witness agony at the hands of the Crimson Emperor!

Garreth winces slightly…

<Garreth> Sorry, divine favour. Paladin, remember?
<@Pironious> Hey, DC 20 is nothing to sneeze at for a second level spell. Alright, I'm pretty much out without calling in backup…
<Garreth> I've got one more, but it's honestly pretty useless unless I'm trying to run away, so I'll just hold it in reserve for now if that's alright with you.
<@Pironious> Yeah, sure, whatever… now what?
<Garreth> …I'll admit I wouldn't expect someone in your position to have backup handy… you don't seem like the type to make friends. Or are they just people who are more afraid of you than those you throw them at?
<@Pironious> I'll have you know my citizens love me as well as fear me. I can be absolutely charming when I want to be, I've got on shortage of help.
<Garreth> Ahh, so excessive use of enchantment magic, then.
<Garreth> Pretty traditional. Wonder if you could find a woman without such a resort…

@Pironious chuckles

<@Pironious> My woman IS my source of excessive enchantments.
<Garreth> Oh? I'd consider that cause for concern rather than mirth in your position.
<Garreth> …Well, I probably wouldn't, if she wouldn't let me.
<@Pironious> Hmph. I'll have you know I have my ways of being immune to such things. I am my own master.
<Garreth> You keep telling yourself that. My wife, on the other hand, is a mighty diviner and conjurer, capable of all forms of magic…
<@Pironious> Vai, honey, could you come out?

Lady_Vai has joined room #BWCSCON

<Lady_Vai> Aww, but you looked like you were having such fun…
<Garreth> …Including teleportation. Eurygania, my dear? Could you join us please?

Garreth pulls something out of his pocket, breaking it as he calls out

Eurygania has joined room #BWCSCON

<Eurygania> Is something the matter here?
<@Pironious> I'd prefer someone specialised in something very useful to a generalist anyday.

@Pironious wraps an arm around Vai

Lady_Vai eyes Eurygania

<Garreth> My dear, I think they're dissing your style.

Eurygania raises a critical eyebrow at the duo, looking from Pironious to Vai

Lady_Vai licks her lips slowly and smirks

Eurygania lets her mouth slowly twist into a small, amused smile, pulling slightly away from Garreth towards one of the open doors

Lady_Vai slides out from Piro's arm and walks towards Eurygania. "See you later dear," she says with a smirk

Eurygania closes the doors behind her, leaving the two lords alone again

Eurygania has left room #BWCSCON

Garreth sighs after a long moment.

<@Pironious> …well, now what?
<Garreth> I really should have seen that coming.
<@Pironious> Mmm…
<@Pironious> Still, not as bad as the time my brother in law came to visit…
<Garreth> …I'm not sure if I should be glad or insulted?
<Eurygania> Oh yes, Vai, you know EXACTLY what I want… ahhh~
<@Pironious> …loud. She does though…
<Garreth> …You know, since my wife's busy, I have a friend who can use her scrying mirror… assuming it's not in use anyway right now…
<@Pironious> It'd certainly help me deal with the running commentry I'm getting right now… and I know where we can get a couple of attractive girls…

Ah, Piro's just like that. He's Lawful Vile Evil and angry about it. Something about getting killed and being remade as a demon of war and tyranny that causes all this anger. That and going from the top of the mortal hierarchy after climbing all the way there to the bottom of the fiendish one.

So yeah, he's rather quick to anger. Most people just don't get a chance to be around him long after that; he tends to scare people away.

If you wanna get technical, Garreth is knowing associating with a Demon at the end, which is grounds for a breach of his alignment :3

But honestly, we were aiming for a stalemate, and more or less got one right?